Shorebirds, or waders, are a large group of small to medium-sized
birds that occur worldwide, in a wide range of predominantly coastal
or wetland habitats. Some species are largely sedentary whilst others
are amongst the world’s most migratory bird species, travelling
thousands of kilometres in a few days.
In addition to describing physical behavioural traits such as feeding,
breeding, migration, and particular physiological adaptations, Shorebirds
in Action also covers territorial behaviour both when feeding and
breeding. There is detailed discussion of the range of species and
their different lifestyles together with feeding strategies, flocking,
roosting and the avoidance of predators. The seasonal features of
shorebirds’ lives are included, such as the various plumages that they
have when breeding, or not breeding, together with the intervening
periods of moult, during which the birds change from one plumage to
the next.
Shorebirds in Action is in two parts – firstly basic
behavioural information and then a photographic section that explains
the specific behaviour being illustrated for that particular shorebird
at the time the photo was taken. In addition the book can be read as
a general text, split into chapters that provide the basic behavioural
information and also by reference to the extended photograph captions
which explain the details of the particular behaviour shown.
The book contains excellent photographs of about 180 shorebird species
– over three-quarters of the world’s total – and therefore provides a
general reference for the identification of shorebird species and the
recognition of their various plumages. It will be relevant to readers
worldwide, including Europe, North America and Australasia. This
comprehensive work can be read as a general text and also the
photographs can be enjoyed separately in their own right. Detailed
references to source material are provided.